Current outlet



May 15 1934. cks 1,958,539 X CURRENT OUTLET Filed April 14, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor fiwaai ih A tlorney Patented May 15, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CURRENT OUTLET Lester '1'. Hicks, South Bend, ma. Application April 14, 1931, Serial No. 530,063

8 Claims. (01. 247-3) nection means for one or several of said plugs:

It is an object of this invention to provide an inexpensive, inconspicuous and highly con venient current outlet of the type described which may be formed to merge with the top or any other part of the base board, molding or other structure in a room or the like.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a current outlet of the type described above which has continuous contacting surfaces throughout its length, making unnecessary an arbitrary placement of the plug or plugs, so that an infinite number of positions is made available to be contacted by the plug or plugs as convenience may dictate.

These and other objects of the invention, its nature, and its composition and arrangement and combination of parts will be readily understood by anyone acquainted with the art to which this invention relates upon consulting the follbwing descriptions of the drawings, in which:--

Figure 1 is a general perspective view of a corner of a room showing a base board having incorporated therewith the device of the invention.

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical cross sectional view taken through the device of the invention and an associated part of a wall and baseboard.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view looking downwardly upon the device of the invention.

Figure 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view disclosing the construction of the insulated casing of the device.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the dielectric core of the device.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a portion of one of the conductors of the device.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 5 generally designates the wall or walls of a room, and the numeral 6 refers to the base board or molding or other such construction in the room, and the numeral 7 generally designates the outlet structure of the invention which con- 50 sists of anelongated dielectric block 8, or of a 2d ck of wood or other material'provided with in erior insulating means. The block or casing 8 consists of an elongated body having a generally rectangular cross section provided with a longi- 55 tudinally extended rectangular recess 9 opening at one side thereof and extending beyond the center of the body as shown in Figures 2 and4. Suspended upon the vertical wall 10 of the recess 9 is an H-shaped dielectric body 11 in spaced relation with the upper andlower walls of the recess 9, and placed in the channels of the H-shaped body 11 are elongated conductors 12 and 13, of

semi-circular cross section, made of spring con-- ducting material, whose edges are sprung or other-v wise secured in position in grooves 14in the'corners, of said channels. 13 normally have an upwardly sprung position so as to meet or nearly meet the upperand'lower walls of the recess 9 of the casing 8. It will be These conductors 12 and I each of the prongs 15 of a standard electrical connector plug 16 in the manner shown in Figures 2 and 3. It-will also be obvious that the plug may he slid along or may be withdrawn and replaced in the frictionally retained position described in any placein the outlet as convenience may require.

The device of the invention may be set on the top of thebase board as shown inFigure 2 and in Figure 1 and proportioned so as to merge with the base board, or it may be placed to take the place of mouldingor of other ornamental work in a room or other structure, whereby to have an inconspicuous and decorative efiect, blending with the construction or decorative scheme of the place in which it is to be disposed.

It is to be definitely understood that I do not desire to limit the application of this invention to the particular modification set out herein to illustrate the principles thereof, and any change or changes may be made in material and structure and arrangement of parts consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is'claimed'im- 1. A current outlet comprising an elongated dielectric body formed with a longitudinal recess in one side, a core placed in said recess, said core being provided in opposite sides with a channel, an elongated transversely bowed spring conductor held in each channel by the engagement of its side edges with the walls of the channel, said conductors being arranged to springedly engage two opposite sides of the recess.

2. A current outlet comprising an elongated dielectric body formed with a longitudinal recess in one side, a core placed in said recess, said core being provided in opposite sides with a channel, an elongated transversely bowed spring conductor held in each channel by the engagement of its side edges with the walls of the channel, said conductors being arranged to springedly engage two opposite sides of the recess, an outward portion of the core being arranged so as to define with the longitudinal recess slots for reception and guidance of the blades of a conventional connection plug, said blades upon applying the plug being directed by said slots to positions between the conductors and the opposite sides of the recess.

3. A current outlet comprising an elongated dielectric body formed with a longitudinal recess in one side, a core placed in said recess, said core being provided in opposite sides with a channel, an elongated transversely bowed spring conductor held in each channel by the engagement of its side edges with the walls of the channel. said conductors being arranged to springedly engage two opposite sides of the recess, an outward side portion of the core being arranged so as to define with the longitudinal recess slots for reception and guidance of the blades of a conventional connection plug, said blades upon applying the plug being directed by said slots to positions between the conductors and the opposite sides of the recess, said core being generally H-shaped in cross section.

4. A current outlet comprising an elongated dielectric block provided in one side with a longitudinal recess having opposed surfaces, a dielectric core in the recess and having opposite sides spaced from the opposed surfaces, compressible spring conductor means interposed between the opposite sides of the core and the opposedsurfaces of the recess, said conductor means being connected to the core and normally expanded against the opposed surfaces of the recess, and arranged so that the blades of a connector may be passed through the opening of the recess and inserted between the opposed surfaces of the recess and the conductor means in a manner to compress the conductor means and cause a tension in the conductor means whereby the blades are held between the opposed surfaces and the conductor means against unwanted movement after insertion.

5. A current outlet comprising an elongated dielectric block provided in one side with a longitudinal recess having opposed surfaces, a dielectric core in the recess and having opposite sides spaced from the opposed surfaces, compressible spring conductor means interposed between the opposite sides of the core and the opposed surfaces of the recess, said conductor means being connected to the core and normally ex panded against the opposed surfaces of, the recess, and arranged so that the blades of a connector may be passed through the opening of the recess and inserted between the opposed surfaces of the recess and the conductor means in a manner to compress the conductor means and cause a tension in the conductor means whereby the blades are held between the opposed surfaces and the conductor means against unwanted movement after insertion, the opposite sides of the core being arranged close to the opposed surfaces of the recess so as toform a closure for the recess and define slots for guiding the blades of a connector into position.

6. A current outlet comprising an elongated dielectric body formed with a longitudinal recess in one side, a core placed in the recess, elongated transversely bowed spring conductors, means securing the edges of the conductors to opposite sides of the core, said conductors being arranged to springedly engage opposite sides of the recess.

'1. A current outlet comprising an elongated dielectric body formed with a longitudinal recess in one side, a core placed in the recess, elongated transversely bowed spring conductors, means securing the edges of the conductors to 'opposite sides of the core, said conductors being arranged to springedly engage opposite sides of the recess, an outward portion of the core being arranged in the opening of the recess and spaced from the sides thereof so as to define longitudinal slots for reception and guidance of the blades of a conventional connector plug into posltions between the conductors and the opposite sides of the recess.

8. A. current outlet comprising an elongated dielectric body formed in one side with a longitudinal recess, a core placed in the recess, an elongated conductor secured to either side of the core between the core and opposite sides of the recess the conductors, being of spring character and normally yieldably engaged with the opposite sides of the recess, said opposite sides of the recess being sufficiently spaced to receive therebetween the prongs of a conventional connector plug so that the outward sides of the prongs engage the opposite sides of the recess and are held in position by engagement of the spring conductors with their inward sides.

LESTER T. HICKS. 

